James was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, the son of Manny and Patty James. Growing up, James was raised by his mother. He is biracial, having a black father and white mother. James identifies as black. He graduated from Sanderson High School in 2010 before going to Wake Forest University. James obtained his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Wake Forest University in 2015 where he was also a wide receiver for Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team from 2011 to 2014. He had mini-camp tryouts with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League in May and June 2015, but was not signed by either team.